September 2009

Constituents raise a variety of issues

Last week I was able to travel throughout the constituency, holding public forums and meeting privately with constituents in Revelstoke, Golden, Invermere and Kimberley.I also attended the centennial celebration of the Spiral Tunnels in Field.

I met with many of you on a wide variety of issues, but the issue that was raised with me most was the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).Seniors spoke to me about their concerns about not being able to afford the HST on a fixed income.In one case, a senior estimated that the HST will cost him more than $1000 each year.

I also met with representatives of a number of non-profit organizations who told me that the loss of direct access gaming grant funding will devastate their operation.Arts groups, museums, hospice societies and sports organizations are all reeling from these cuts.

I also spoke to people about transportation issues and concerns about accessibility in our communities.I visited ambulance stations and fire halls.I spoke with laid-off forest workers, parents concerned about cuts to education and constituents who are being hurt by a loss of health services.

I am now back in Victoria, and this Legislative sitting will continue through to the end of November. This will mean that my time in the constituency will be limited but I will be able to return to the area during the one week each month that the House does not sit.

My next extended visit to the constituency will be following Thanksgiving Day when I will again be holding open houses and meeting days.

Constituents also have the opportunity to contact my staff for assistance when I am not in the area.

Constituency staff are available to provide services to both community groups and individual constituents.They can help you find the government agency you need, or make suggestions on how to resolve government service issues.

I look forward to meeting with you in October.My staff and I are here to listen to what matters to you.

Call toll-free at 1 866 870 4188 or email norm.macdonald.mla@leg.bc.ca

Become an active participant in your democracy

If you think the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is a bad idea, and you want to stop it, the following headline in the September 3rd Vancouver Sun is very good news.

Victoria backs down on arts funding cuts after outcry

Here is proof positive that if people speak out loudly and strongly, even the most out of touch government can be forced to react.

Non-profit organizations across the province have been reeling from the news that their funding agreements with the provincial government had been cancelled.And when some of those organizations threatened to sue the government, all of a sudden, the government decided to reconsider.With a bit of pressure applied in the right place, the government was forced to live up to its obligations.

How does this apply to the HST issue?The BC Liberals were re-elected in May based on the promise that they did not support the HST.Immediately after the election, the BC Liberals announced that they were implementing the HST.They made an agreement with the electorate, and then they broke that agreement.

The lesson that can be learned from the experience of these non-profit organizations is that if you fight back, you just might win.

So, when people ask me what they can do to stop the HST, I say they need to stand up and fight.If you believe that the BC Liberals were wrong to mislead British Columbians about their plans for HST, you have responsibility to say so.

If we allow governments to lie to us without consequence, we will get the government we deserve.We are responsible for supporting and protecting our democratic system and that comes from an engaged electorate that demands honesty and integrity from government.

Take a moment today to speak out on the issues that matter to you.Become an active participant in your democracy.

Sign a petition.Attend a rally.Send an email.Whatever you do, do not accept that duplicity and dishonesty are just a natural part of the political system.Because, if you do accept that, duplicitous and dishonest government is exactly what you will get.